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It’s time to prepare for the upcoming holidays and the upcoming winter weather. As cooler temperatures enter our neighborhoods, many of us increase the heat in our homes. While this keeps us warm, it ends up drying out the hair and leading to breakage. This happens for both kids and adults, but kids need a little more help from Mom and Dad to prevent hair from drying out. Here are some tips for caring for your child’s winter hair.

1. Start with a light, easily manageable haircut
It is recommended to get a trim every six to eight weeks to prevent breakage. At the start of winter’s peak—end of November, early December—I recommend getting your child’s hair cut so the ends are fresh, and the style is easily manageable. You want to avoid heavy styling in the cold months so having a simple hairstyle is best. My favorite winter hairstyles for girls are short to medium length Bobs and for little boys I recommend a Fade or an easy Crew Cut.

2. Invest in hair care products
Year-round you want to have quality haircare products, but this is especially important during the cooler temperatures. Invest in a quality shampoo and conditioner, detangling spray and a leave-in conditioner.
I recommend Original Sprouts Natural Shampoo, Leave In Conditioner and Miracle Detangler. You can find these products in your salon—ask a hairstylist at your haircutting appointment—or similar products
at the grocery store.

3. Think about your plate
Often times we forget that what we eat affects our hair. The best vitamins and minerals for hair moisture, shine and health are found in fish (salmon, preferably), leafy greens and nuts. Try to add salmon into the weekly rotation and consider adding a few greens to your child’s lunch or dinner. Nuts are easy add-ons in lunches, trail mix or other snacks. These easy swaps will help nourish your body and
your hair!

4. Avoid over styling
I mentioned this above but it’s worth repeating: heavy washing, drying, combing, braiding and excess hair accessories can lead to more breakage. Washing too often or not enough can dry out hair. Aim for every other day or so, but go with what works best for your family. Also remember that after washes
you don’t want your child to go outside with wet hair—it will make them too cold and increase the risk of catching a cold. It can also lead to hair breakage. Try to do washes at night before bedtime for best results.

5. Detangle hair before and after each styling/wash
Detangling hair not only makes washing and styling easier, but it also prevents messy knots, which leads to breakage. If your child’s hair is dry, spray it with water or a hair solution to get it a little wet. If wet, use a conditioning solution or detangling spray. Use a wide-tooth comb to gently comb through the hair, moving from the ends to the roots, until all the knots are out and hair is smooth.

6. Monitor and keep lice at bay
Kids often share hats and coats are frequently hung next to, or on top of, other coats making it easy for lice to spread. In the winter, make sure you are checking your child’s hair every one-two weeks to see if any lice have found their way onto your child’s head. I also recommend using Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel lice prevention line of products to repel lice away. Original Sprout Shampoo and Conditioner also contain Rosemary to repel lice.

Hair care is often forgotten about when temperatures drop, but it is an important part of overall care and appearance, and it is important to teach our children about it while they are young. I hope these tips will help your family combat the winter chill while keeping your hair in great condition.

About the Author
Grace Small is the mother of three young adults. She has lived in Kennesaw for over 20 years. Grace owns and operates the Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids salon in Kennesaw with her husband Las. The salon is located at 1615 Ridenour Blvd. in Kennesaw. When she’s not in the salon, Grace enjoys participating in community activities with local schools and day care centers, as well as with the local Business Associations. She also enjoys the outdoors and exploring the beautiful Atlanta parks.

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